diff --git a/target/arm/hvf/hvf.c b/target/arm/hvf/hvf.c
index 8e2940217a..8288b60529 100644
--- a/target/arm/hvf/hvf.c
+++ b/target/arm/hvf/hvf.c
@@ -2020,6 +2020,7 @@ static int hvf_handle_vmexit(CPUState *cpu, hv_vcpu_exit_t *exit)
         break;
     case HV_EXIT_REASON_CANCELED:
         /* we got kicked, no exit to process */
+        ret = -1;
         break;
     default:
         g_assert_not_reached();